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Dubois County, Indiana facts for kids

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Dubois County
The Dubois County courthouse in Jasper, Indiana
The Dubois County courthouse in Jasper, Indiana
Map of Indiana highlighting Dubois County
Location within the U.S. state of Indiana
Map of the United States highlighting Indiana
Indiana's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Indiana
Founded December 20, 1818
Named for Toussaint Dubois
Seat Jasper
Largest city Jasper
Area
 • Total 435.33 sq mi (1,127.5 km2)
 • Land 427.27 sq mi (1,106.6 km2)
 • Water 8.06 sq mi (20.9 km2)  1.85%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 43,637
 • Estimate 
(2023)
43,546 Decrease
 • Density 97.4/sq mi (37.6/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 8th
Indiana county number 19

Dubois County (/dˈbɔɪz/ doo-BOYZ) is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2020, the population was 43,637. The county seat is Jasper. Dubois County is now the sole county of the Jasper Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Dubois County was formed on December 20, 1818, from Orange, Pike and Perry counties. It is named for Toussaint Dubois, a Frenchman who fought in the American Revolutionary War, the Battle of Tippecanoe and the War of 1812. Dubois was a merchant who lived mainly in Vincennes. He drowned in 1816 while crossing the Little Wabash River near Lawrenceville, Illinois.

In 1818, as many as half of the residents of the county died of milk sickness. The plant contains the potent toxin temetrol, which is passed through the milk. The migrants from the East were unfamiliar with the Midwestern plant and its effects.

Dubois County switched to the Central Time Zone on April 2, 2006, and returned to the Eastern Time Zone on November 4, 2007; both changes were controversial as Huntingburg wished to remain on Central Time while Jasper never wanted to leave Eastern Time.

The original county seat was Portersville. In 1830, the county seat was moved south to Jasper.

Geography

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 435.33 square miles (1,127.5 km2), of which 427.27 square miles (1,106.6 km2) (or 98.15%) is land and 8.06 square miles (20.9 km2) (or 1.85%) is water.

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated places

Townships

  • Bainbridge
  • Boone
  • Cass
  • Columbia
  • Ferdinand
  • Hall
  • Harbison
  • Jackson
  • Jefferson
  • Madison
  • Marion
  • Patoka

Adjacent counties

Climate and weather

Weather chart for Jasper, Indiana
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
3
 
38
20
 
 
2.8
 
44
24
 
 
4.1
 
54
33
 
 
4.7
 
65
43
 
 
5.3
 
74
52
 
 
4.7
 
82
61
 
 
4.4
 
86
66
 
 
4.1
 
85
63
 
 
3.6
 
79
56
 
 
3.2
 
67
44
 
 
4.3
 
55
35
 
 
3.5
 
43
25
temperatures in °F
precipitation totals in inches
source: The Weather Channel

In recent years, average temperatures in Jasper have ranged from a low of 20 °F (−7 °C) in January to a high of 86 °F (30 °C) in July, although a record low of −25 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of 104 °F (40 °C) was recorded in July 1966. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.81 inches (71 mm) in February to 5.29 inches (134 mm) in May.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1820 1,168
1830 1,778 52.2%
1840 3,632 104.3%
1850 6,321 74.0%
1860 10,394 64.4%
1870 12,597 21.2%
1880 15,992 27.0%
1890 20,253 26.6%
1900 20,357 0.5%
1910 19,843 −2.5%
1920 19,915 0.4%
1930 20,553 3.2%
1940 22,579 9.9%
1950 23,785 5.3%
1960 27,463 15.5%
1970 30,934 12.6%
1980 34,238 10.7%
1990 36,616 6.9%
2000 39,674 8.4%
2010 41,889 5.6%
2020 43,637 4.2%
2023 (est.) 43,546 4.0%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2013

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 41,889 people, 16,133 households, and 11,459 families residing in the county. The population density was 98.0 inhabitants per square mile (37.8/km2). There were 17,384 housing units at an average density of 40.7 per square mile (15.7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.1% white, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.2% American Indian, 3.1% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 6.0% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 58.0% were German, 9.0% were American, 8.1% were Irish, and 6.7% were English.

Of the 16,133 households, 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.3% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.0% were non-families, and 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.03. The median age was 39.9 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $64,286. Males had a median income of $42,078 versus $31,411 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,801. About 6.9% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census

Dubois County Racial Composition
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 38,137 87.4%
Black or African American (NH) 190 0.44%
Native American (NH) 55 0.13%
Asian (NH) 247 0.56%
Pacific Islander (NH) 5 0.01%
Other/Mixed (NH) 857 2%
Hispanic or Latino 4,146 9.5%

Economy

Personal income

The median income for a household in the county was $44,169, and the median income for a family was $50,342. Males had a median income of $32,484 versus $23,526 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,225. About 2.90% of families and 6.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.30% of those under age 18 and 7.30% of those age 65 or over.

Tourism

Patoka Lake is located along the county's eastern borders with both Crawford and Orange Counties. Several annual national bass fishing tournaments are held there.

The Hoosier National Forest is located in the county. Part of it is protected.

Education

Public education in Dubois County is administered through four school corporations:

  • Greater Jasper Consolidated Schools
  • Southeast Dubois School Corporation
  • Southwest Dubois School Corporation
  • Northeast Dubois County School Corporation

High Schools

  • Jasper High School (Greater Jasper Schools, Jasper)
  • Forest Park High School (Southeast Dubois Schools, Ferdinand)
  • Southridge High School (Southwest Dubois Schools, Huntingburg)
  • Northeast Dubois High School (Northeast Dubois Schools, Dubois)

Infrastructure

Major highways

  • I-64.svg Interstate 64
  • US 231.svg U.S. Route 231
  • Indiana 56.svg Indiana State Road 56
  • Indiana 64.svg Indiana State Road 64
  • Indiana 145.svg Indiana State Road 145
  • Indiana 161.svg Indiana State Road 161
  • Indiana 162.svg Indiana State Road 162
  • Indiana 164.svg Indiana State Road 164
  • Indiana 264.svg Indiana State Road 264
  • Indiana 545.svg Indiana State Road 545

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Dubois para niños

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